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Central Market in York celebrates birthday with kid-friendly entertainment

The event included cupcakes, music and a play market stand.

By DAVID BLYMIRE

 For the Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
04/06/2013 11:39:34 PM EDT

Four-year-old Olivia Mahler of Hershey, Pa. dances along with Ronn Benway as he entertains the crowd Saturday at Central Market in York during its 125th anniversary celebration. (YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS -- JASON PLOTKIN)

Megan Primavera of Springettsbury Township took her three children to Central Market Saturday for some kid-friendly entertainment to celebrate the market's 125th anniversary in York.

She usually drives to the market house one or two Saturdays per month, but this week the market offered even more incentive with some special events geared for small children, including music by Ronn Benway, free cupcakes, and photos in a kid's market play stand.

"It's a nice thing we can do with our whole family," Primavera said.

Primavera came to the market with her sons, Sawyer and Sage, and daughter, Suri.

As she held Suri and danced to Benway's music, she talked about the market. She said her family likes buying produce and pastries, cookies and other baked goods.

Steph Weirich, left, tries to make her daughter Mackenzie, 2, laugh as the duo have their photo taken Saturday at Central Market in York. (YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS -- JASON PLOTKIN)

And, there's some kind of entertainment every Saturday, she said.

One corner of the market was set up to allow kids to pretend they're a market vendor. Mackenzie Weirich, 2, played there while her dad, Jason Weirich of York, watched.

"We like to support the businesses," he said.

The vendors offer meat, produce, gifts and antiques, and specialty items. The market is still looking for more vendors.

Casi Babinchak, chief operations officer, said the recently completed $1.9 million renovation allowed the market to add 30 new vendor spaces. It also added a new heating system and ceiling fans, as well as architectural touches, such as replicating the market's original doors.

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Between handing out birthday cupcakes, she said the market would like to add another butcher and more produce and specialty vendors.

In another part of the market, people were buying lunch or eyeing vendors' offerings, including a stall run by a woman selling 27 varieties of specialty pasta.

Jason Becker of York sampled the lemon basil fettuccine at Prima Donna's Pasta, before offering his verdict: "That would be good with fish," he said.

"It's nice to see the changes they're making" to the market house, he said, adding it feels less drafty.

He said he appreciates the arrival of new vendors. The market offers items he doesn't see in grocery stores.

The woman behind the counter, Mary Armstrong, said she sold pasta at a market in Manheim, Lancaster County for the past year before she met some people from YorKitchen, another Central Market tenant, who suggested she contact the market in York.

In addition to Saturday's event, the market also had special events Thursday to mark the anniversary, including samples of food, wine and beer, Babinchak said.